LIGAWASAN, Special Geographic Area (SGA), BARMM — A nearly seven-hour armed confrontation rooted in a long-running clan feud, locally known as rido, left one man dead and another wounded after intense fighting erupted between two armed factions in Barangay Bulol, Ligawasan, on the night of January 29.
Authorities confirmed that the fatality was Rambo Talayan, of legal age and married, who was caught in the crossfire during the prolonged exchange of gunfire. A civilian was also injured and is currently recovering, police said.
The clash began at around 9:35 p.m. between the groups led by Commander Ismael Kulong Lidasan and Commander Makaalay Guiamil Takubungan. According to initial police and military reports, the confrontation stemmed from a deep-rooted rido—a clan feud that has persisted for generations, repeatedly erupting into violence and showing no clear signs of resolution.
For hours, residents of Barangay Bulol were trapped in fear as gunfire echoed through the community, placing civilians at extreme risk and once again highlighting how unresolved family conflicts continue to undermine peace in parts of the Bangsamoro region.
At around 4:30 a.m. on January 30, the Ligawasan Municipal Police Station (MPS) received a distress call from Barangay Chairman Hon. Macungan Mamento, reporting the deadly encounter. However, immediate police entry was delayed due to the area’s distance—about eight kilometers from the police station—and strong warnings from local leaders to hold off while tensions remained high to avoid possible “friendly fire.”
By 5:00 a.m., after the gunfire subsided, joint forces from the Ligawasan MPS and the 40th Infantry Battalion (Alpha Company) of the Philippine Army, in coordination with the local government unit (LGU) and barangay officials, moved in to conduct clearing operations and an initial investigation.
PNP BARMM spokesperson Capt. Steffi Salanguit confirmed that the armed groups involved were linked to an ongoing rido, noting that such conflicts often resurface despite previous interventions. “Halos pitong oras ang itinagal ng bakbakan, at malinaw na muli nitong inilagay sa panganib ang mga sibilyan,” she said.
Following the incident, additional military and police troops were deployed to the area to secure residents and prevent retaliatory attacks or a resurgence of violence.
On orders of Mayor Hon. Ismael S. Mama, the Ligawasan LGU immediately conducted an on-site verification, monitoring, and assessment in Barangay Bulol. The response was led by Municipal Administrator Omolhayr M. Talembo, with Vice Mayor Hon. Zenaida L. Abas, members of the Sangguniang Bayan, barangay leaders, and representatives from the MDRRMC, in close coordination with the AFP and PNP.
Local officials said the visit aimed to assess the actual situation on the ground, ensure civilian safety, and determine urgent measures to maintain peace and order.
Despite the current calm, authorities acknowledged that the incident underscores a harsher reality: rido remains one of the most persistent security challenges in the region, passed down across generations and repeatedly igniting violence that claims lives, displaces families, and erodes community stability.
As of this writing, security forces remain on high alert in Barangay Bulol, while calls grow louder for sustained peace-building efforts to finally break the cycle of clan violence that continues to haunt Ligawasan and other conflict-prone areas of BARMM.